{"id":238154,"date":"2023-01-27T12:43:35","date_gmt":"2023-01-27T17:43:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thedetroitbureau.com\/?p=238154"},"modified":"2023-01-27T15:39:22","modified_gmt":"2023-01-27T20:39:22","slug":"audi-introduces-fourth-sphere-concept-activesphere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/2023\/01\/audi-introduces-fourth-sphere-concept-activesphere\/","title":{"rendered":"Audi Introduces Fourth \u201cSphere\u201d Concept: Activesphere"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Audi revealed the fourth and final model of its \u201csphere\u201d family of electric concepts, this one dubbed activesphere, designed to cater to those with an outdoorsy\/on-the-go lifestyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Audi
Audi revealed the fourth and final model of its \u201csphere\u201d family of electric concepts, this one dubbed activesphere.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The newest version of the all-electric concept, which was teased in December<\/a><\/u><\/strong>, takes from the current design trend of coupe-style sedans, but places the body on 22-inch wheels to give it substantial ground clearance. Not only is it a coupe, it can convert to become a pickup truck as the rear becomes an open cargo bed or \u201cactive back,\u201d as the brand describes it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four-door crossover coupe is designed to handle outdoor gear like skis and snowboards or even a pair of e-bikes. Not only can it carry the equipment, but it also features a powertrain designed to traverse the off-road terrain to get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like its siblings, activesphere focuses on incorporating autonomous driving technology into the vehicle with the steering wheel and pedals allowing the driver to actively control the car, while also offering autonomous driving for a more relaxed time on the road.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe activesphere is unique. It is a new type of crossover that cleverly combines the elegance of an Audi Sportback, the practicality of a SUV and true offroad capabilities,\u201d said Gael Buzyn, manager of Audi\u2019s design studio in Malibu, California.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going off-road<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With the rise in popularity of off-road vehicles, like the new Porsche 911 Dakar, Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness and even Audi\u2019s on Allroad model, it\u2019s no surprise the sphere family got an offering designed to head out in the great outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Audi
The four-door crossover coupe is designed to handle outdoor gear like skis and snowboards or even a pair of e-bikes. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Designers made sure the vehicle was equipped to tackle more than fire roads and well-worn two-tracks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With its massive wheel arches housing the 22-inch wheels and electronically controlled quattro all-wheel drive, it\u2019s extremely capable. The Audi activesphere\u2019s ground clearance is also variable; ideal for off-road use, it can be increased by 1.5 inches from the basic height of about 8 inches, or lowered by the same amount when driving on-road. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This helps with the center of gravity and aerodynamics when driving fast. The approach angle of the Audi activesphere is 18.9 degrees, the departure angle 28.1 degrees. Not quite Moab ready, but much better than most vehicles out on the trails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improved useability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The key to the activesphere is its capability. It\u2019s a luxury crossover one minute and a go-most-anywhere truck the next. The rear window slides are almost flush with the roof while the lower, vertical segment of the rear folds horizontally, this opens up an ample cargo bed \u2014 much like the recent Ram Revolution shown at CES \u2014 called the active back that features brackets for e-bikes, for example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Audi
The urbansphere is aimed at Chinese market and its traffic-dense urban environs.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The lateral surfaces of the rear, the C-pillars, remain in position to maintain the activesphere\u2019s dynamic silhouette, the company noted, while a motorized bulkhead deploys from behind the rear seats in order to isolate the cabin from the elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A ski rack is integrated in the center of the roof, which sits flush and nearly invisible until its needed. At that point, it simply extends out so skis can be safely attached and transported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Newest family member<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The activesphere is follows the urbansphere, grandsphere and skysphere. The four members of the Sphere family present Audi\u2019s vision for the premium mobility of tomorrow. The concept vehicles are united not only by a fascinating design, but also by the electric drive and the design for the possibility of automated driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Audi
Audi describes the Grandsphere as a “private jet on wheels.”<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe sphere concept vehicles show our vision for the premium mobility of the future. We are experiencing a paradigm shift, especially in the interior of our future Audi models,\u201d said Oliver Hoffmann, member of the Board of Management for Technical Development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe interior becomes a place where the passengers feel at home and can connect to the world outside at the same time. The most important technical innovation in the Audi activesphere is our adaptation of augmented reality for mobility. Audi dimensions creates the perfect synthesis between the surroundings and digital reality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0urbansphere was the most recent offering<\/strong><\/a><\/u><\/strong>. Aimed at the Chinese market and its traffic-dense urban environs, it rides on Volkswagen Group\u2019s Premium Platform Electric platform. The urbansphere\u2019s cabin is the largest Audi has ever made. It boasts a 133.9-inch wheelbase and measures 217 inches long, 79 inches wide and 70 inches tall.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second of the concepts,\u00a0Audi described the grandsphere<\/a><\/u><\/strong>\u00a0as a \u201cprivate jet for the road.\u201d The\u00a0grandsphere measures 17.6 feet, nose-to-tail, and vaguely resembles a stretched version of Audi\u2019s current A7 line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Audi
Audi’s skysphere concept is the first of four concepts from the German brand.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The technology built into the \u201clounge on wheels\u201d falls roughly into three distinct categories. To start with, the show vehicle uses an all-electric drivetrain pairing twin motors \u2014 one on each axle \u2014 to produce 711 horsepower and 686 pound-feet of torque. According to Audi, that would permit a launch from 0-100 kmh, or 62 mph, in about 4.2 seconds. It also features Level 4 autonomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The skysphere concept aims to take the idea of a \u201cconvertible\u201d to new extremes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The long, low roadster\u2019s roof can retract<\/strong><\/a><\/u><\/strong>, but that\u2019s just the start. It can even change its wheelbase at the touch of a button. And, when you get tired of putting the skysphere through its paces, the steering wheel and pedals tuck away, transforming the cabin into a luxurious lounge on wheels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of skysphere, the show car retains classic roadster proportions, Audi officials saying they were strongly influenced by the Horch 835, one of the most celebrated German luxury vehicles of the 1930s. Horch was one of the four brands that eventually became Audi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The show car uses a single electric motor that punches out 623 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque through the rear wheels. Audi claims that will launch the roughly 4,000-pound skysphere from 0-60 in just 4 seconds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The fourth \u2014 and final \u2014 creation from the brand with the four rings, the activesphere is Audi\u2019s all-electric take on what the sportsmen and women of the future will need and want in their EV. Check out the latest model in the family at TheDetroitBureau.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4389,"featured_media":238159,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,8,5,1608,10,9],"tags":[9557,9558,1279,9556,2572],"make":[],"post-state":[],"category_old":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/238154"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4389"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=238154"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/238154\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":238182,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/238154\/revisions\/238182"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/238159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=238154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=238154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=238154"},{"taxonomy":"make","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/make?post=238154"},{"taxonomy":"post-state","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-state?post=238154"},{"taxonomy":"category_old","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/category_old?post=238154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}